ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fight

n. · v.
US //ˈfaɪt// UK //fˈaɪt// fight
Irregular verb past fought past participle fought
  1. 1 physical struggle (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    an occasion where people use physical force against each other.

    a physical confrontation or combat between individuals or groups.

    Example

    The two boys got into a fight on the playground during lunch break.

    Example

    The peaceful protest unfortunately devolved into a violent fight after several agitators began throwing stones at the security line.
  2. 2 argument (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    an angry disagreement or a verbal struggle between people.

    a verbal dispute or disagreement, often characterized by anger or hostility.

    Example

    They had a big fight about money and didn't speak for two days.

    Example

    What started as a minor misunderstanding over household chores escalated into a bitter fight that lasted the entire weekend.
Show 5 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 sports match (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    a boxing or martial arts match.

    a professional or amateur bout in combat sports such as boxing, wrestling, or MMA.

    Example

    We bought tickets to see the heavyweight fight at the arena tonight.

    Example

    The championship fight was decided in the final round by a technical knockout, much to the surprise of the spectators.
  2. 4 will to succeed (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the desire or ability to keep trying when things are difficult.

    the internal spirit, courage, or determination required to continue struggling against opposition.

    Example

    The team lost the game, but they showed a lot of fight until the end.

    Example

    Despite the grim diagnosis, the patient still had plenty of fight left in her and committed fully to the recovery programme.
  3. 5 to engage in combat (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to use physical force or weapons against someone.

    to engage in physical conflict or battle against an opponent.

    Example

    Soldiers were sent to the border to fight the invading army.

    Example

    The two rival factions have been fighting over this small territory for more than a decade with no resolution in sight.
  4. 6 to struggle for a cause (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to work very hard to achieve something or to stop something bad.

    to strive vigorously for a specific goal or to campaign against an injustice or social issue.

    Example

    She spent her whole life fighting for women's rights in her country.

    Example

    The local community is fighting to prevent the historic library from being demolished to make way for a luxury apartment complex.
  5. 7 to resist a feeling (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to try hard not to show or feel an emotion.

    to struggle to suppress or control an internal impulse, emotion, or physiological reaction.

    Example

    He had to fight back tears during the sad movie.

    Example

    She struggled to fight the urge to laugh during the serious ceremony, biting her lip to maintain a professional expression.
Etymology 1

From Middle English fighten (“to fight”), from Old English feohtan (“to fight, combat, strive”), from Proto-West Germanic fehtan (“to fight”), from Proto-Germanic fehtaną (“to comb, tease, shear, struggle with”), from Proto-Indo-European *peḱ- (“to comb, shear”). Cognate with Scots fecht (“to fight”), West Frisian fjochtsje, fjuchte (“to fight”), Dutch vechten (“to fight”), Low German fechten (“to fight”), German fechten (“to fight, fence”), Danish fægte (“to fence, to fight (using blade weapons)”), Norwegian fekte (“to fence”), Swedish fäkta (“to fence, to fight (using blade weapons), to wave vigorously (and carelessly) with one's arms”), Latin pectō (“comb, thrash”, verb), Albanian pjek (“to hit, strive, fight”), Ancient Greek πέκω (pékō, “comb or card wool”, verb). Related also to Old English feht (“wool, shaggy pelt, fleece”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English fight, feyght, fiȝt, fecht, from Old English feoht, ġefeoht (“fight”), from Proto-West Germanic fehtan (“to fight”), from Proto-Germanic fehtą, gafehtą (“fight, struggle”), from Proto-Germanic fehtaną (“to struggle with”). Cognate with Dutch gevecht (“fight”), German Gefecht (“fight”).

Word family
Idioms7 entries

© 2026 English Reference